Veterans deserve our help

This is in regard to your Feb. 13 story about James Gunn, a Korean War veteran and a survivor of the Chosen Reservoir fighting, and eventual retreat.

These Marines suffered huge hardships to save South Korea from the Communists and today, South Korea is a thriving, industrial country.

That would not be true if it were not for the Marines and other American military units who slugged it out for 38 months with North Koreans and the Chinese.

We lost more than 33,000 men in combat and suffered 100,000 wounded. Now thousands of veterans of that terrible war, mostly in their 80's, need some help. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't have enough funds or even personnel to handle the needs of those aged veterans who gave their all when they were young.

Maybe we should think about giving less money to those foreign countries who hate us and use that money to aid our veterans. Wouldn't it be nice if South Korea made some donations to our VA in thanks for all that our troops did?

A recent editorial, "Shameful way to treat vets," highlighted the difficulties 81-year-old James Gunn faced when applying for his earned benefits. Many veterans like Gunn endure months or years of delays, while facing day-to-day financial and emotional challenges. In Broward County, about 95,320 veterans have a service-connected disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Although officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are attempting to improve the timeliness of claims and appeals processing, veterans also can take steps to improve their experience. First, file as soon as possible. The VA will only compensate a veteran from the date the initial claim is filed. Also, obtain written medical confirmation of the current qualifying conditions before applying. Not having this could delay benefits.

For the fastest processing time, it's important to keep a complete and accurate medical record and meet all deadlines. Veterans who disagree with the initial decision can appeal. This is a complicated process, but help is available. An appeal allows submission of additional evidence, a personal hearing and maintains the original award date.

While waiting for a decision, keep in mind that the VA disability process is lengthy, so plan financially for the delay. Cut unnecessary spending as quickly as possible and prepare for the long haul.

Finally, don't give up. The Board of Veterans' Appeals asks regional offices to reconsider almost half the claims that were initially denied. In many cases, perseverance will pay off.

Jim Allsup, Belleville, Ill.

Cause of copycat crime

Now it comes out that the mass shooter in Newtown, Adam Lanza, was emulating the shooter in Norway. Is the media's front-page glorification of these terrible acts helping to promote abominable behavior in the unbalanced mind?

Maybe such media attention is a greater mover of the fascination with violence than the much-maligned video games, or even the world's gun population. Copycat crime is promoted by front-page copycat reporting. We are telling them how, where and when to carry out their crooked ideas of entertainment.

In the media, the big-story treatment is done for profit and is a most self-serving act. The community is not helped by glorifying evil. We can do better.